Death and Floriography: Poppy

March 16, 2024

Detail of decorative poppy seed pods from Henry Shaw’s Mausoleum at the Missouri Botanical Garden

We are slumberous poppies, Lords of the Lethe downs, Some awake and some asleep; Sleeping in our crowns - Leigh Hunt

The poppy, because of its long history of medicinal use, has come to represent sleep, forgetfulness and consolation. The compounds they contain were harvested and used in the ancient world as a sedative & pain-reliever.

Greek and Roman mythology associated the poppy with the dead and the gods of sleep: Somnus or Hypnos and his son Morpheus. They were placed as offerings to the dead and said to surround the entrance of the palace of sleep.

A fortune telling practice reported in Flora's pocket Dictionary (1870) would tell any young man or lady of the constancy of their lover. The petal of a poppy flower was placed in the left palm and quickly struck with the other hand. If the petal broke with an audible snap it meant your love would last. An intact petal meant your love would quickly fade.

Find out more about floriography and plant symbolism in the 19th Century by joining us for Sentimental Symbols at the Missouri Botanical Garden Saturday, June 15, 2024.

Sources: Flora's pocket dictionary : a lexicon of the language and sentiment of flowers; 1870; Biodiversity Heritage Library, The Artistic Language of Flowers; 1888; Biodiversity Heritage Library; The Language of Flowers; 1865; Biodiversity Heritage Library

Our Fall 2023 Events

August 17, 2023

The fall season is right around the corner so make sure to add these very unique events to your calendar!

💀 Halloween Tour of the Magic Chef Mansion on October 14th, 2023 - Mourning Society members in spooky attire will be assisting with this annual public Halloween Tour of the beautiful Magic Chef Mansion - Get your tickets here

💀 Consolations of Memory at Bellefontaine Cemetery on October 21st, 2023 - Annual free cemetery tour and 19th century funeral reenactment - Register here

💀 Twilight Tours of the Campbell House on October 27th, 2023 - Evening mourning themed tour of the beautiful Campbell House

💀 A Haunted Christmas at the Bissell House on December 2, 2023 - Enjoy a tour of the Bissell House featuring Christmas ghost stories and 19th century traditions!

image courtesy of Curt Dennison

New Event! Sentimental Symbols at The Missouri Botanical Garden

April 7, 2023

color plate from The language of flowers by Miss Ildrewe 1865; The Biodiversity Heritage Library

Saturday, May 20, 2023

In collaboration with the Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum, join the Mourning Society of St Louis for a special tour of the Missouri Botanical Garden focusing on 19th-century naturalism, sentimentalism and the art of floriography (communicating through flowers). We'll be passing through the Linnean House and the Gladney Rose Garden as we make our way to the Garden’s historic Victorian District. Guides in period clothing will cover everything from the Wardian case to fern fever and instruct you on the perfect arrangement to send to your sweetheart or your rival. We'll also be pointing out the meaning of the flowers, plants and trees we encounter along the way from the Victorian "Language of Flowers”.

This tour is free with Garden admission; 1st tour at 10am and final tour at 11:30am offers ASL interpretation (each 45 minutes long); tours begin at the Taylor Visitor Center at the Missouri Botanical Garden.

The Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum is one of the historic structures on the grounds of the Garden, and currently features a special exhibition Urban Garden Dreams: Student Community Art, on view through March 2024.

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Spiritualists in St Louis: 1904

July 2, 2022

In October of 1904 the Antimedium Association of the United States issued a challenge to the National Spiritualistic Association to provide proof of their spiritualistic beliefs. Both groups were holding their national conventions right here in St Louis at the time and as they stated "now is a good time and this is a good place to prove it".

Harrison D Barrett of the Spiritualists accepted the challenge asking them to send three of their number to attend their sessions the next three nights assuring them that they would see "such proofs of spiritualism as could not be sincerely disputed”

The Antimediums responded with a demand that they send a committee of Spiritualists to meet with them and perform these challenges under fair conditions, saying they should 'get down to business" or "back square-out" of the challenge altogether.

This response was met mostly with dismissal by the Spiritualists who said that no test could prove more conclusive than those performed by them that very evening in front of an audience of 500 people.

The convention for the National Spiritualistic Association was held from October 18 through October 22, 1904 at the Temple of Spiritualism located at 3015 Pine Street led by Reverend Thomas Grimshaw (this building is no longer standing but would have been located in Midtown close to Jefferson and Olive). Three hundred delegates from twenty-two state organizations participated in the convention. On their agenda, along with these spiritualist performances every evening of the convention, was the adoption of their own official marriage ceremony, which left out the inequalities seen in most ceremonies between men and women, the election of new officers, a resolution to protect their number against prosecution by city officials as 'frauds and fortune-tellers" and the derisive topic of discounted railroad tickets.

images from the St Louis Post Dispatch Oct 1904

About Exploring Victorian Spiritualism

June 22, 2022

Are you wondering what to expect at our next event Exploring Victorian Spiritualism?

This unique event is a guided tour of the General Daniel Bissell House where members of the Mourning Society will take you through a timeline of the Spiritualism Movement from it’s beginnings in the 1840s spirit rapping cases through the automatic writing and spirit mediums of the late 1910s - highlighting a few of the famous spiritualists and skeptics of the era. You’ll learn about the history of spirit communication devices (including live demonstrations!) and experience a reenactment of a 19th century séance.

We can't promise any real spirits but we can guarantee you'll learn something new!

Tours start every 20 minutes. Space is limited as we are working in a historic home. Get your tickets now for this event by clicking on one of the links below and be sure to check out our other events coming up this year here.

Exploring Victorian Spiritualism SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2022 AT 10 AM – 2PM at the General Bissell House.

If you have any questions about this event or about the Mourning Society of St Louis please reach out using our contact form. We’d love to hear from you!

Please note that session times mark the start of a guided tour, not an open house. Guests should arrive prior their tour times to account for check-in. The General Daniel Bissell House is located at 10225 Bellefontaine Rd., St. Louis, MO 63137. Call (314) 615-8884 or email KPlunkett@stlouiscountymo.gov for more information.

Our 2022 Event Dates are available!

February 11, 2022

All of our 2022 events are now listed here on our events page. Details and registration links will be added as we get closer to the date of each event.

We’ll be returning to The Bissell House for Exploring Victorian Spiritualism on July 16, 2022.

As always please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or if you are interested in participating in any of our upcoming events be sure to check out the information here.

Join us for A Haunted Christmas at the Bissell House

November 17, 2021

Join us as we revive the 19th Century tradition of telling ghost stories by the fireside at the General Daniel Bissell House on December 4, 2021.

Limited availability. $5 per guest. Tours start every 20 minutes and will last around an hour. Space is limited so we recommend reserving your tickets online via the St Louis County Parks . For more information call 314-615-8884 or email KPlunkett@stlouiscountymo.gov.

Who We Are: Katherine

October 31, 2021

The Mourning Society wouldn’t be anything if it weren’t for an amazing group of volunteers that make our events so special. We’ll be shining a spotlight on our members throughout the 2021 fall season.

You still have a chance to come out and meet us in person this year at A Haunted Christmas at the Bissell House on December 4.

If you are interested in joining the Mourning Society of St. Louis, you can find out more by clicking here or sending us a message.

💀 How long have you been a member of the Mourning Society of St Louis and how did you get started?

Edna and I started out in 2005 planning a mourning themed event at the DeMenil Mansion. In 2015, along with John Avery, we ventured out on our own as The Mourning Society of St Louis and had our first funeral reenactment at Bellefontaine Cemetery.

💀 What role do you play in the group?

I help plan events, research topics we are going to cover, field questions from the public and the press, recruit and train new members and manage all of our social media accounts. I also participate in events as a reenactor and presenter.

💀 What is your favorite Mourning Society event?

That’s a hard one because all of them stand out as unique in one way or another, but if I have to choose it would be Consolations of Memory. It was our first event working together as a group and it’s such a moving experience being there in the cemetery during the funeral and burial procession reenactment. There’s nothing else like it.

💀 What is your favorite topic that we cover at events?

My favorite topics are the two I speak about at events the most: hairwork / mourning jewelry and post-mortem photography.

Who We Are: John

October 15, 2021

You still have two chances to come out and meet us in person this year at these upcoming events : Twilight Tours at the Campbell House on October 29 and A Haunted Christmas at the Bissell House on December 4.

If you are interested in joining the Mourning Society of St. Louis, you can find out more by clicking here or sending us a message.

💀 How long have you been a member of the Mourning Society of St Louis and how did you get started?

John is a founding member of the Mourning Society of St. Louis. He had done events with Katherine and Edna at another location for 10 years, then moved with the group to Bellefontaine Cemetery and formed the Mourning Society 6 years ago.

💀 What role do you play in the group?

John is officially “The Undertaker” of the group. He also helps plan the events, and is the group advisor on all things funerary, serving as a font of information regarding all details of 19th century funerals, from the eulogy to the graveside service and all points in between.

💀 What is your favorite Mourning Society event?

John’s favorite event is Consolations of Memory at Bellefontaine Cemetery because it spotlights the Victorian experience of death, mourning, and burial in a way that is unique as compared to how other October events are done. He appreciates the opportunity our group has to be able to reenact this experience in the beautiful surroundings of Bellefontaine Cemetery.

💀 What is your favorite topic that we cover at events?

John’s favorite topic is infant burial. This was his forte’ during his years of working as a Funeral Director at Shrader Funeral Home, where he helped many grieving families begin their painful journey after the loss of a baby or child, drawing a sort of kinship with families of the 19th century where the loss of babies and children was so prevalent.

Who We Are: Tracy

October 12, 2021

If you are interested in joining the Mourning Society of St. Louis, you can find out more by clicking here or sending us a message.

💀 How long have you been a member of the Mourning Society of St Louis and how did you get started?

I have been a member for approximately 5 years. I had read about an event they were hosting at Bellefontaine Cemetery, which I was really excited to attend! I showed up in a dress close to the 1910/teens era, and a parasol. I was asked if I would like to join. And of course, I did.

💀 What role do you play in the group?

I portray a Suffragist. My first time was at the Golden Lane event in downtown St. Louis, and most recently, at the St.Charles Missouri Bi Centennial in Frontier Park. I feel that learning about the Suffragist Movement is so important today- for people to know and appreciate what the women in their family, only a few generations ago, must have gone through. The right of women to vote was hard won.

💀 What is your favorite Mourning Society event?

It is a tough call, but personally, I love the Christmas Ghost Stories at the Bissell House. It's a lovely house, and it's so fun to go room to room with a different story to hear. It's so unique to hear ghost stories around Christmas time- I appreciate these sort of lost traditions from the past.

💀 What is your favorite topic that we cover at events?

Besides the Suffragist Movement, I must say, Epidemics. It is a subject that will make you appreciate modern sanitation and science like you never expected to.

Who We Are: Janis

October 8, 2021

If you are interested in joining the Mourning Society of St. Louis, you can find out more by clicking here or sending us a message.

💀 How long have you been a member of the Mourning Society of St Louis and how did you get started?

I’m not really sure what year I started. It was at DeMenil and I presented on post mortem photography. Kevin O’Neill was with DeMenil. Carol from Kirkwood was in the parlor with all of her Victorian finery. Lol. Had to be after 2003 but right before I was in mortuary science school in 2006.

I got started because Kevin O’Neill thought it was my cup of tea and told you and Edna about me

💀 What role do you play in the group?

My role is usually that of historic disease tales but I did speak on post mortem photos, cemetery iconography, and traditions in funeral service then vs now.

💀 What is your favorite Mourning Society event?

Bellefontaine is my favorite event. It’s the best setting for Victorian Mourning.

💀 What is your favorite topic that we cover at events?

I find all of our topics fascinating! You do a tremendous job setting up and creating this event. There are always very inquisitive attendees.

Who We Are: Dan

October 5, 2021

If you are interested in joining the Mourning Society of St. Louis, you can find out more by clicking here or sending us a message.

💀 How long have you been a member of the Mourning Society of St Louis, and how did you get started

Associated since 2016.

💀 What role do you play in the group?

Organizer at BCA and aid in other events when possible like Campbell House.

💀 What is your favorite Mourning Society event?

Anything at BCA, but I am biased😉

💀 What is your favorite topic?

Customs of the era. I think Historical Context is an essential teaching aid. To understand customs today, we need a better understanding of the past.

Who We Are: Edna

October 2, 2021

If you are interested in joining the Mourning Society of St. Louis, you can find out more by clicking here or sending us a message.

💀 How long have you been a member of the Mourning Society of St Louis and how did you get started?

I am one of the founding members of the Mourning Society of St. Louis. Katherine and John and I had been doing mourning events at another location for 10 years, then moved to Bellefontaine Cemetery and formed the Mourning Society 6 years ago. I’ve always been interested in 19th century medicine and mourning customs, so being in a group of like minded people has been a great experience and a lot of fun for me. I’ve met some amazing folks and made some really good friends in this group.

💀 What role do you play in the group?

At most of our events I’m dressed in full mourning, so I’m known as “The Widow” of the group, which makes it interesting when I introduce people to my very much alive husband! My other title is “The Leech Lady” because I am the procurer of leeches for the 19th century medical presentations I do within the group. I help with the planning of our events, and give presentations about mourning customs. Over the years I have accumulated quite a collection of mourning jewelry, post mortem photography, coffins, and mourning ephemera that we display at our events. I am also the official proofreader for our articles and event posts.

💀 What is your favorite Mourning Society event?

It’s so hard to pick a favorite event! It has to be a tie between our “Consolations of Memory” event at Bellefontaine Cemetery where we get to reenact an 1860s funeral in a beautiful historic cemetery, and “Twilight Tours” at The Campbell House where we do mourning presentations inside the walls of that gorgeous mansion. I consider all of our events an honor—it’s so special to be invited to do events at so many wonderful historic locations in St. Louis!

💀 What is your favorite topic?

My favorite topic is 19th century medicine. I’m a nurse, so it’s fun for me to explain to people how medicine has changed over the centuries, while in some ways staying much the same. I especially enjoy talking about my leeches and how they are still being used in medicine today!

Consolations of Memory 2021 Cancelation

September 30, 2021

Unfortunately, due to the high chance of thunderstorms throughout the day this Saturday October 2, we are cancelling the live event Consolations of Memory at Bellefontaine Cemetery 2021. This year's event was planned to be entirely outdoors with no nearby buildings for shelter. For everyone’s safety we thought it best.

If you have registered look for future communication about a ZOOM/Virtual option for this event. As always, safety and comfort are essential. Thank-you to all of our potential attendees and volunteers. We will update with virtual options as soon as they are available.

We hope to see you very soon at one of our other 2021 events!

Who We Are: Heather

September 28, 2021

You still have three chances to come out and meet us in person this year at these upcoming events : Twilight Tours at the Campbell House on October 29, and A Haunted Christmas at the Bissell House on December 4.

Tickets for Twilight Tours at the Campbell House are available for purchase!

If you are interested in joining the Mourning Society of St. Louis, you can find out more by clicking here or sending us a message.

💀 How long have you been a member of the Mourning Society of St Louis and how did you get started

Since the beginning...not sure when that was?? Got started when the craft group morphed into the Mourning Society!

💀 What role do you play in the group?

Costumed interpretive programs; costumed ambiance person; tours of upstairs at Bissell; designed the DNC tableau; props/decorations; assisting with event check in; selling sweet pin merch

💀 What is your favorite Mourning Society event?

Probably the October mourning event, but I did love the Decoration Day event portraying WWI

💀 What is your favorite topic?

Weird St. Louis events

Who We Are: Jennifer

September 24, 2021

You still have three chances to come out and meet us in person this year at these upcoming events : Consolations of Memory at Bellefontaine Cemetery on October 2, Twilight Tours at the Campbell House on October 29, and A Haunted Christmas at the Bissell House on December 4.

Registration is now open for Consolations of Memory at Bellefontaine Cemetery on October 2 and tickets for Twilight Tours at the Campbell House are available for purchase!

If you are interested in joining the Mourning Society of St. Louis, you can find out more by clicking here or sending us a message.

💀 How long have you been a member of the Mourning Society of St Louis and how did you get started?

I met a founder through a friend and when she told me about what she did, I was instantly fascinated. I got started when the group was still at the Chatillon-DeMenil mansion. When they migrated to collaborate with Bellefontaine Cemetery, I followed.

💀 What role do you play in the group?

In the past I've been in costume and talked about a topic but lately I've been an event photographer.

💀 What is your favorite Mourning Society event?

Consolations of Memory ever October but the Women's Suffrage events are delightful, too!

💀 What is your favorite topic that we cover at events?

I dig a variety of topics! Tombstone iconography, post-mortem photography, and momento-mori, to name a few. Another topic of great importance I love to hear about are the voices of black figures and their contributions.

Who We Are: Jeanne

September 21, 2021

Registration is now open for Consolations of Memory at Bellefontaine Cemetery on October 2 and tickets for Twilight Tours at the Campbell House are available for purchase!

If you are interested in joining the Mourning Society of St. Louis, you can find out more by clicking here or sending us a message.

💀 How long have you been a member of the Mourning Society of St Louis and how did you get started?

I believe I joined in 2014. I used to attend craft night at DeMenil Mansion, where I met Katherine, Edna, and Lynn. As I dabbled in living history and sewing, I decided the events sounded like good fun and made a dress. My first event was Mourning at DeMenil.

💀 What role do you play in the group?

I am usually a set decoration in a big floofy dress and group guide, though I appreciate opportunities to do more when needed. I participate in our Women's Suffrage sub-group, too.

💀 What is your favorite Mourning Society event?

I haven't found my favorite yet, as they are all good in different ways.

💀 What is your favorite topic ?

I like relating societal events of the past by discussing or sharing with people how women and others related to one another, the challenges they navigated, and the small moments that had a profound impact on a person or family's life.

Who We Are: John

September 18, 2021

Registration is now open for Consolations of Memory at Bellefontaine Cemetery on October 2 and tickets for Twilight Tours at the Campbell House are available for purchase!

If you are interested in joining the Mourning Society of St. Louis, you can find out more by clicking here or sending us a message.

💀 How long have you been a member of the Mourning Society of St Louis and how did you get started?

I have been a member for 7 or 8 years now. I meet Edna at the Bastille Day event at DeMenil House. I have been an actor and reenactor for many years. The Victorian age has always fascinated me.

💀 What role do you play in the group?

I am " the widower."

💀 What is your favorite Mourning Society event?

Favorite event is at Bellefontaine. I love the atmosphere of the cemetery. I need to spend more time there, appropriately dressed of course.

💀 What is your favorite topic?

Hard to say. I can't really pick just one.

Who We Are: Ginger

September 15, 2021

Registration is now open for Consolations of Memory at Bellefontaine Cemetery on October 2 and tickets for Twilight Tours at the Campbell House are available for purchase!

If you are interested in joining the Mourning Society of St. Louis, you can find out more by clicking here or sending us a message.

💀 How long have you been a member of the Mourning Society of St Louis and how did you get started?

I have been a member since 2014. After several years of attending the events as a guest, I was invited to bring my hearse and park curbside for an event. Not long after I arrived, one of the participants had to leave and I was asked to take her place, so I spent the rest of the day happily talking to the public about arsenic poisoning! I've been hooked ever since.

💀 What role do you play in the group?

I have filled several roles within the group. Tour guide, mourner, presenter. Aside from arsenic poisoning, event topics have included dysentery, consumption, infant mortality, and medical quackery.

💀 What is your favorite Mourning Society event?

My favorite will always be the annual Consolations of Memory. It was my first experience with the Society and I love spending the day in beautiful Bellefontaine Cemetery while wearing my Victorian-era dresses. It really feels like we've stepped through a portal to the past.

💀 What is your favorite topic?

I have enjoyed so many of our topics but my favorites are any of the mourning customs and spiritualism. The year when we had one of our suffrage events and a little girl was asking for our "autographs" as suffragists was really memorable and fun.

Who We Are: Tom

September 11, 2021

Registration is now open for Consolations of Memory at Bellefontaine Cemetery on October 2

If you are interested in joining the Mourning Society of St. Louis, you can find out more by clicking here or sending us a message.

💀 How long have you been a member of the Mourning Society of St Louis and how did you get started?

I’m not sure😅 I think 4; maybe 5 years?? I was first made aware of the MS when they started having conversations with Bellefontaine Cemetery (where I was volunteering as a Master Guide) about a new home for their programming. They needed pall bearers (which is often the case LOL), so I said ‘sure’ and figured out really quick that I was hooked.

💀 What role do you play in the group?

Usually the ‘pastor’ for our funeral re-enactments, but I’ve also been a pall bearer and assistant of sorts helping with program details.

💀 What is your favorite Mourning Society event?

I’d have to say ‘Consolations of Memory’. It’s a full day of re-enacting and putting the ‘fun’ in funeral. LOL

💀 What is your favorite topic?

That’s a hard one, but I’ll say sharing the details of the formal clothing customs.